Candidate Zone

What are the elections?

The Students Association Support Group elections are the perfect time to get involved in how the Groups are run, either through voting or standing for a position. If you have time to get involved, we would love to have you. There are many positions up for grabs, you are bound to find something that interests you. Group elections are a chance for any Group member to nominate themselves for a vacant position and for members to then vote for their preferred candidate to represent them. If you would like to be involved but don’t feel you have the time to commit to one of these roles, you can still have your say by using your vote! We also have several volunteer opportunities throughout the year with varied time commitments, if you need more flexibility but would like to meet fellow students, help your peers and/or gain skills with us.

Who can nominate themselves for a role?

Any OU student can stand who is a member of the relevant Group, so long as you meet any criteria for the roles. We are committed to creating Group Committees which are representative of the student community. Diverse teams achieve better outcomes for students, particularly if they are more reflective of the community they represent, and so this is something we are passionate about. Following a recommendation of the recent Groups Review put forward to the Student Leadership Team (SLT), it was decided that current SLT members cannot be part of a Group Committee. This was justified by the amount of commitment required by both roles.

Do you need any previous experience to stand?

No! No previous experience of working with the Association is required to stand for any of the roles. You just need to be enthusiastic and willing to learn, have ideas about what you would like to do if elected and have the time to commit to the role you choose. The Association is a welcoming space for people to grow and learn in. Full training would be provided if you were elected to a role, as well as a friendly staff team who will be around to answer any queries you have and support you throughout your term.

How much of my time will being an elected Group Committee member take up?

All the role descriptions indicate an expected number of hours you will spend in your volunteer role; however, this can differ dependant on an individual’s working style and availability. The hours can also fluctuate depending on certain events that may be happening such as Freshers. It is important to remember that you can scale up or down your time spent volunteering by taking on more responsibilities, but for those who work whilst volunteering or who have a limited time to spare, it would be best to speak to a staff member before applying to get a sense of how this role could work for you. There is always support from the office and it is ok to take holidays from your role.

How long will my term be if I am elected?

Your role would begin in November 2023 after elections end and last until 31 December 2024.

How do I nominate myself?

To stand in the Group elections, you must nominate yourself for a role via our website, where you will find an online nomination form to share your relevant experience and manifesto. At any point you can ask for support or guidance from our Team, email us via oustudents-support@open.ac.uk.

What information should I include in my nomination?

Instead of a traditional 'manifesto' Candidates will answer 3 questions which Group members have told us are the most important for them:1, What does Equality, Diversity and Inclusion mean to you? 2, Why would you like to stand for this volunteer role? 3, What skills and experiences would you bring to the committee of this Group?We will be publishing full answers up to the end of the word limit, unedited. Candidates should be reminded to check their word limits as well as spelling and grammar, before submitting their nomination.

Can I nominate myself for more than one role?

No. Candidates may only stand for one role during the elections.

What will I need to submit?

Once nominations are open, you will be asked to fill out the nomination form and provide your manifesto by answering 3 broad questions. You can also provide us with an image that you would like to go with your name and manifesto on our the Elections webpage.

Why is only the Chair elected? How are the other roles filled?

Following a comprehensive review of our student-led Groups last year, we will be making adjustments to our recruitment process to ensure a more efficient and inclusive approach. Whilst previously, at the beginning of each term, all Group committee members were elected by Group members, going forward we will only call elections for the Chair position. The rest of the committee will be appointed in a subsequent round of recruitment, straight after the elected Chair is announced. You can read more about the details of this new approach in our Hoot article . If you are interested in being on the committee in a role other than the Chair, you will find more information on the appointment process on this webpage and other Group spaces, once applications are open.

Are there any rules to campaining?

We want Group elections to be respectful and an enjoyable experience for all our Candidates and Voters. When you are communicating with others please keep in mind our Values and Behaviours Policy as well as our Volunteering Policy . If you would like to post about your candidacy onto a Facebook Group please seek any advice from the Group's admin first, for the Facebook space of the Group you are running in an election for, Candidates are able to post in the Group twice. Likewise, Candidates are permitted to post in the Groups Forum space twice. It is important to remember that from the time you submit your nomination, you are representing the OU Students Association and the Group you are running as a Candidate for - please therefore act accordingly. For more information, read the Group elections procedure .

Wellbeing Resources

Putting yourself forwards for elections is an exciting process, however there can be times where you want to step back and take a moment to look after yourself. Below you'll find resources from Wellbeing charity Mindapples for topics including getting motivated to handling the pressure that you may feel during the elections process.

If you are struggling and would like to speak with someone during elections, please reach out at oustudents-support@open.ac.uk

Mindapple resources

Manifesto Tips

A manifesto is a text that explains why you are standing for a specific role, and why you would be the best candidate for the role. It is an opportunity for you to introduce yourself to potential voters, explain what your understanding of the issues and challenges associated with the role you are standing for, and describe what actions you will take to address them.

Why is it important?

It sets expectations for students on what you are looking to achieve

It is the first port of call for voters to compare each candidate's ideas

It gives you a structure to follow during the campaign process

Writing a strong manifesto

Use SMART objectives to structure your manifesto

Specific, Measurable, Achieveable, relevant and time-specific

Make sure your manifesto includes goals that are realistic and related to the role you are applying for

Be clear and to the point. Keep your sentences short and easy to read so voters can take in the points you're making quickly.

Your manifesto should focus on the skills and ideas you have, not your other candidates.

Utilise evidence to make your points strong and logical

Use your creativity to make your manifesto engaging and interesting to read

Ensure you spell check your manifesto before submitting it

Have a read of our Elections procedure to understand the election rules.